Beware!! Don’t Take This Job . . .

What Are The Signs That This Is the Wrong Job For You?

Are you on the job market? Are you desperate to find a new job? Or, perhaps you already have a job and are looking to start anew somewhere to different to gain fresh experience. Whatever the case, you are most likely certainly excited to embark on the journey – but do not be too hasty. Consider carefully what you are looking for in a job, or what you want your new job to offer. Is there something that your current one lacks? Is it simply better pay? Different opportunities? New challenges? Whatever you are seeking, approach your search with care and do not jump on the first offer you receive without thoroughly researching the position and the company first. In this article, we will look at some signs that may indicate that you should pass over a job for an even better opportunity.

1. Beware of timing.

If your interviewer makes an offer before thoroughly reviewing your resume or even speaking to you, it might be tempting to seize the opportunity right then and there. But, without extensive conversations, there could be trouble. A good business will have carefully reviewed its applicants before making any major decisions concerning “next steps” and will not just to hasty decisions.

2. Make sure you understand what the job entails.

Before making any decisions about a position, make sure you understand exactly what the job demands. Make sure that you fully understand what responsibilities will be expected of you on the job. Further, as you interview, be sure that you will be able to realistically meet those demands competently. It is a warning sign of trouble to come if you only have a vague sense of purpose concerning what role you would play in a company or organization.

3. Do you like the job?

After you have a clear understanding of the job and corporate culture, consider whether you would enjoy such tasks as they are described. Sure, work is supposed to work, but can you really see yourself showing up for a role every day you absolutely feel no attachment to? Further, do you have an understanding of what the professional development track is? Similarly, consider the culture of the organization or company. Is the corporate mission similar to what you support or strive to do in your own work? If so, then you might have a match. If you cannot answer that question with such confidence, however–and if you in any way disagree with the company’s position on certain issues–then it may be wise to look elsewhere.

4. Beware of blatant bad-mouthing of employees, either past or current.

While it may be tempting to indulging in petty gossip with your interviewer, avoid doing so at all cost and consider seriously how the work environment might suffer from such gossiping. Do you really want to work at a place where your work might qualify as gossip fodder for bored interviewers? And, what’s more, what does such chattering have to do with the position or the company? Do you imagine such drama could get in the way of your productivity at work? In any case, such behavior is highly unprofessional and should raise flags immediately.

5. Beware of a lack of fit.

As you interview, understand how you might fit in with the company’s culture and how closely your values and professional goals line up with those of the company. Here, consider how your potential boss appears and treats people. While you do not have to be best friends with your boss by any means, clashing personalities can greatly interfere with your ability to work to the best of your ability. If you at any point get unusual vibes from any person during the hiring process, you might want to seek out places of employment where you better click with everyone.

6. Beware of companies with poor reputations.

Surely you know that before you take on any position, you should research the job extensively—and beyond that, you should get to know everything you can about the company. Look beyond its own website. Search online. What do past employees have to say about the company? Clients? While you should not take every word you read on the web to be truth, do look for trends. If the company consistently comes up as having poor workplace management or unprofessional custom service, for instance, you might want to consider digging deeper or looking elsewhere altogether.

7. Beware of accepting jobs for which you can muster no emotion beyond “meh.”

Do not settle for a job, especially if you do not feel absolutely confident or enthusiastic about the work or the mission of the company.

8. Beware of any strange gut feelings.

At the end of the day, whether you accept a job offer is your decision. Think carefully about the job and weigh the pros and cons. If at any point in your personal evaluation, something feels “not right”—be it about the company, the position, a person who represents the company, and so—listen to your first instinct.

Lexacount Search is a boutique recruiting and staffing company, focusing on permanent placement for legal and accounting professionals. We place attorneys, paralegals, accountants, and contract specialists with law firms and corporations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and nationwide. Equidistant from New York and Washington, D.C., our offices are located in suburban Philadelphia. Our search consultants have a range of experiences as lawyers, paralegals, law clerks, accountants and accounting clerks. These backgrounds make our consultants uniquely qualified to match your skills and career goals with permanent positions with our clients. Whether you are a lawyer, paralegal, law clerk, accountant, accounting clerk or other skilled professional, Lexacount will provide you with a variety of available career opportunities.